Current pain and headache reports
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The relationship between sleep and sleep disorders and headache remains unclear. Clinical experience and numerous studies document some sort of relationship, but the exact nature remains understudied and complex. Changes in sleep duration and sleep quality appear to be capable of affecting headaches of different types. ⋯ Obstructive sleep apnea also may cause a specific headache when awakening, which is different from migraine or tension headache and disappears after treatment of the sleep and breathing disturbance. Hypnic headache is another type of sleep-exclusive headache that has been proposed. Hypnic headaches are brief, moderately severe, and affect the elderly primarily.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2003
ReviewCancer pain and depression: management of the dual-diagnosed patient.
Depressive disorders and pain syndromes are very common in the experience of cancer patients and may be experienced simultaneously. There is an intuitive association between cancer pain and cancer depression, both of which are multidimensional entities. Research has suggested, but not conclusively proven a cause-effect relationship. ⋯ Combination drug therapy may be required. Psychotherapy also is common to the treatment of cancer pain and depression. With or without the intervention of pain and mental health specialists, ongoing supportive therapy from the primary clinician is essential.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2003
ReviewShort-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing syndrome: a review.
The clinical features of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome have been reviewed in 50 patients reported in the English language literature. SUNCT syndrome is a rare condition that predominates slightly in men. The mean age at onset is 50 years. ⋯ SUNCT was thought to be highly refractory to treatment. However, recent open-label trials of lamotrigine, gabapentin, topiramate, and intravenous lidocaine have produced beneficial therapeutic responses. These results offer the promise of better treatments for this syndrome, but require validation in controlled trials.